BC Coalition of Women's Centres



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Media Release
For immediate release
March 8, 2004


International Women’s Day- A Day of Mourning in BC

BC-  Today thousands of women will be mourning the loss of their local Women’s Centre.  The BC Liberals have reneged on a pre-election promise and will be eliminating 100% of the only core funding 37 Women’s Centres receive- this means more doors will be closing, some as soon as a few weeks from now.


Ida Chong and  the BC Liberals are lying to the public- most Women’s Centres have not found alternative sources of funding- most Centres will not be staying open, in fact, most will be closing.

The services communities will lose include crisis intervention and support, referral services  to transition houses, Stopping the Violence counseling, Specialized Victim’s Assistance, food banks, legal services, Income Assistance and hundreds of other community resources.  Women’s Centres also directly provide critical services such as food banks, free telephone use, support groups, hot lunches, advocacy, information on how to access government services, in the BC Liberals own words- Women’s Centres are often the first place a woman goes for help.

The cuts to Women’s Centres along with the far reaching cuts to legal aid, welfare rates, Human Rights, childcare, victim’s assistance, children’s services etc etc  spell disaster for thousands of BC women.

On this International Women’s Day we call on this government to restore funding to Women’s Centres and to stop the inexcusable attack on women in BC.

Please call your local Women’s Centre to find out about an event in your community and how you can support Women’s Centres.  Also visit the BC Coalition’s website at www.bcwomen.cjb.net to join our “Making Jam” campaign.
 


If you have questions/comments for BCCWC, please e-mail us at bcwomen@telus.net  For other contact information, please go to our Information Page

BC Coalition of Women's Centres British Columbia, Canada
100 Mile House • Campbell River • Chetwynd • Comox Valley • Cranbrook • Fernie • Fort Nelson • Fort St. John • Golden • Grand Forks • Howe Sound • Kamloops • Kelowna • Kitimat • North Shore • Penticton • Port Coquitlam • Queen Charlotte Islands • Quesnel • Richmond • Ridge Meadows • Sunshine Coast • South Surrey/White Rock • Surrey • Terrace •  Vancouver • Vernon • Westcoast • West Kootenay • Williams Lake

This page last updated:  June 08, 2004
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